Mounting for a grinding wheel

ABSTRACT

A removable flange for supporting one end of a grinding wheel. The flange is provided with wedge blocks which are held away from the spindle to allow radial positioning of the flange with respect to the spindle in accordance with the alignment of the wheel. The blocks are then released and radially lock the flange with respect to the spindle.

PATENI'ED MAY 419m sum 2 BF 2 MOUNTING FOR A GRINDING WHEEL BACKGROUNDOF THE INVENTION This invention pertains to the field of mountings forwheels on grinding machines. y

In prior art devices, the free side of the wheel was supported by aflange slidably'received on the spindle. The flange was a certain amountlarger than the spindle receiving it to allow radial positioning of theflange with respect to the wheel without stressing the wheel. However,when extremely wide wheels were used, such as on centerless grindingmachines, the clearance between the removable flange and the spindleallowed movement of the one end of the wheel which, in turn, createdchatter in the workpiece.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION To alleviate thisproblem, this inventionprovides a flange which is slidable onto the spindle and which is freeto assume the radial position of the wheel; The flange is then axiallyclamped in place against the spindle. A number of wedges are then forcedinto engagement between the spindle and the flange to radially lock theflange in position.

To release the wedges from their engaged position, a pair of gearedrings are provided which are interconnected by a number of pins. Uponrotation of the rings, the pins disengage the blocks from the spindleand flange.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a wheel-holdingflange which -can be initially positioned radially in conformance withthe wheel and locked in'that position.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention should be readily"apparent by reference to the following specifications, considered inconjunction with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, andit-isto be understood that any modifications may be made in the exactstructural details there shown and described, within' the scope of theappended claims, without departing from or exceeding the spirit of theinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plane view of a spindleshown in a machine.

FIG. 2 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation taken alongline 2-2 of FIG. I.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged section along line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective of the spring used in this invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective of the wedge block used in this inventron.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings, thereis shown in phantom a grinding machine 10. A spindle 11 carrying agrinding wheel 12 is rotatably mounted in the machine 10. The wheel 12is carried over a main body portion 13 of the spindle l1 and against aflange 15. The flange 15 is an integral part of the spindle II and,therefore, provides a fixed support for the wheel 12. Between the wheel12 and the flange 15 is inserted a blotter 14to prevent unequal stressesfrom being put on the wheel 12 by the flange 15.

At the end of the wheel 12 opposite the flange 15, there is a secondflange 16 which supports that end of the wheel 12. The flange 16 isslidably received on a reduced diameter portion 21 of the spindle 11 toallow removal and replacement of the wheel 12.. A blotter 17 is placedbetween a face 18 of the flange 16 and the wheel 12 to prevent unequalstressed from being created in the wheel by any slight misalignment ofthe wheel 12 and the flange 16. j

The flange 16 is axially secured to the spindle 11 by six clamp screws19. The flange has a reduced diameter portion 23 which is slidable intothe wheel 12.

This problem has been especially significant To prevent this problem,the flange 16 needs to be radially locked with respect to the spindle 11during rotation of the spindle 11. However, during mounting of a wheel,the flange 16 must be radially free to align itself with the wheel 12.If it is not, there are residual stresses put on the wheel. Also, theremust be freedom to axially adjust the flange 16 by the screws 19 toallow for expansion or compression of the blotters.

The flange 16 of this invention is shown in detail in FIGS. 2- 5. Theflange 16 has a body 24 with a plurality (six as shown inFlG. 2) ofopenings 25 circurr'ifercntially spaced around an inside diameter 20thereof. Each of said openings 25 has a wedge face 26 therein. Eachopening 25 also has a circumferentially extending lip 28. A leaf spring29 and a wedge block 30 are carried in each of the openings 25. Thewedge block 30 has two wedging faces 32 and 33. The spring 29 actsagainst a face 34 of the opening 25 and the block 30 to provide aresilient biasing means for forcing the block 30 between the wedge face26 and the spindle 11. Due to the circumferential spacing of theopenings, and each block exerting a I force between the spindle and thebody, the flange is locked in position radially.

Two rings and 37 are carried on opposite sides of the body 24 and areconnected to each other by a number of pins 38,

a force the wedges 30 against the spring 29 releasing the wedges 30 fromengagement with the spindle ll which in turn allows easy removal of theflange 16. To rotate the rings 36 and 37, a geared shaft wrench 41 isinserted in one of the clamp screw holes 42. The gears 43 on the wrench41 engage the gear teeth on the ring 36 and, upon rotation of the wrench41, the

Since there is a sliding fit between the flange 16 and the rings 36 and37 are also rotated.

A pair of lock screws 45 and 46 are mounted in the flange to lock therings 36 and 37 in their rotated position.

The wedges 30 have two outwardly extending lips 48 and 49. When therings 36, 37 are rotated such that the pins 38 engage the blocks 30, theblocks 30 and springs 29 are held in place by the interaction of thepins 38 on the lips 48, and the lips 28 on the spring 29 which in turnis held in by the lips 49.

When the wheel 12 is mounted on the spindle 11, the rings 36 and 37 willbe in their rotated position and locked there by the lock screws 45 and46. The flange 16 is then placed over the spindle 11 with the" reduceddiameter 21 being inserted into the wheel. Next, the clamp screws 19 aretightened to axially position the flange 16. To this point, the flange16 is radially free to position itself with respect to the spindle 11.The lock screws 45 and 46 are then released and the rings 36 and 37rotate clockwise disengaging the pins 38 from the blocks 30. The blocks30 are wedged into. position by the springs 29 which radially locks theflange 16 in position. If, at a later time, the clamp screws need to betightened due to compression of the blotter, the flange 16 is free toaxially move a few thousandths of an inch without being radiallyunlocked.

Iclaim:

l. A flange for securing a grinding wheel to a spindle comprising:

a. an annular body having an inside diameter which fits slidably overthe spindle, a face which contacts one end of the wheel, and a pluralityof circumferentially spaced openings which open into the insidediameter, each said opening having a wedge portion therein;

b. a plurality of wedge blocks, one of said blocks being carried in eachof said openings; and

c. resilient means for biasing said wedge blocks against the wedgeportion such that said blocks engage the spindle and the wedge portionsof the body to prevent relative radial movement therebetween.

2. A flange as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a circumferentiallyextending lip in each of the openings to hold openings andinterconnecting said rings; and

c. means for rotating said rings such that said pins engage said blocksand force them against said means for biasing.

6. A flange as claimed in claim 5 wherein said means for 5 rotatingcomprises:

a. a number of teeth along the periphery of one of said rings;

and

b. an opening in said body for receiving a toothed wrench.

7. A flange as claimed in claim 5 further comprising means for lockingsaid rings in the rotated position.

1. A flange for securing a grinding wheel to a spindle comprising: a. anannular bOdy having an inside diameter which fits slidably over thespindle, a face which contacts one end of the wheel, and a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced openings which open into the inside diameter,each said opening having a wedge portion therein; b. a plurality ofwedge blocks, one of said blocks being carried in each of said openings;and c. resilient means for biasing said wedge blocks against the wedgeportion such that said blocks engage the spindle and the wedge portionsof the body to prevent relative radial movement therebetween.
 2. Aflange as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a circumferentiallyextending lip in each of the openings to hold said resilient means andsaid blocks in the openings when said flange is removed from thespindle.
 3. A flange as claimed in claim 1 wherein said biasing means isa leaf spring.
 4. A flange as claimed in claim 1 further comprisingmeans for releasing said blocks from their engagement position to allowremoval of the flange from the spindle.
 5. A flange as claimed in claim4 wherein said means for releasing comprises: a. a pair of rings carriedon each side of said body; b. a plurality of pins, each pin extendingthrough one of said openings and interconnecting said rings; and c.means for rotating said rings such that said pins engage said blocks andforce them against said means for biasing.
 6. A flange as claimed inclaim 5 wherein said means for rotating comprises: a. a number of teethalong the periphery of one of said rings; and b. an opening in said bodyfor receiving a toothed wrench.
 7. A flange as claimed in claim 5further comprising means for locking said rings in the rotated position.